Sunday, January 31, 2010

Clorox Debunks the 5-second Rule ~ Say it Ain't So!

How many of you use the "5-second rule"?  You know, the rule that goes into effect when your kids' binkie, sippy-cup, *fill in the item of choice*, falls on the ground?  You might lean over to pick it up and wipe it off or blow on it?  Or, and you'll love this,my husband used to pop a dropped binkie in his mouth and then declare it clean! Turns out that Clorox conducted a study that shows the 5-second rule may just be a myth... not that any of us ever truly believed in it.  Let's face it, the 5-second rule only exists in certain places.  For example, your own kitchen floor? - definitely yes, the floor of the pachyderm house at the zoo?- not so much.  I always figured my kids were so healthy because of all the germs I've fed them.  It's my responsibility as a parent to help them build strong immunity. Right? 

Last week, I sat in on a call with actress and comedian, Samantha Bee, best known for her role as correspondent on The Daily Show with John Stewart.  She shared the findings from the Clorox study and her take on the 5-second rule. You can read about the Clorox study and Samantha Bee's parenting style in her e-journal entry at I'm fairly laid back, I think there is a difference between being tidy and having proper hygiene.  I wipe down my counters and tables but the nastiest rooms in my house are the bathrooms that my boys use.  I can't stand the nasty dirt rings around the sink and I especially can't stand the lack of aim that seems to be hereditary in this house.  I keep the Clorox wipes in my bathroom and have begged and pleaded with my boys to use them.  They don't.  Each time I go into the main floor shared bathroom I feel like I'm entering into a war zone.  Lord knows why there would be pee up the wall OPPOSITE the toilet. Really?  Do they just hang out in there and think "hmmm let's see if I can perform a double loopedy-loop pee stream and hit the wall behind me".  What?  Your kids don't do that?  Must be a sign of genius... or something.  Anyway, let's just say that the 5-second rule is valid in every room of my house EXCEPT the bathroom.

Do you have any funny 5-second rule stories, photos, or videos?  Do you follow the 5-second rule?  Leave a comment for me and tell me your tales, one lucky commenter will win a Clorox Gift pack valued at $20 with a variety of Clorox Products.


For more 5-second rule stories you can visit the following blogs:

*This was a sponsored post.  The opinions are mine based on my own experiences.


8 Responses to "Clorox Debunks the 5-second Rule ~ Say it Ain't So!"
  1. ScrappinMichele said...
    January 31, 2010 at 8:36 PM

    Ha Ha! My boys bathroom is the same way. I guess if you can aim, you do.

  2. Shady Lady said...
    January 31, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    Oh fine. Burst my bubble.

  3. Unknown said...
    January 31, 2010 at 11:37 PM

    I'll give you my most shameful "5 second rule" story... Thanksgiving... the turkey, nuff said! I know that was oh so bad to do, but I was the only one who was in the kitchen getting things ready, I was stressed and it was either that or no turkey!! Sort of like the tree in the forest falling down, no one saw it so how do you know it happened. *lol* ...I had just mopped does that help?

  4. Cheryl said...
    February 1, 2010 at 10:28 AM

    My kids eat out of the couch cushions. It's true.

  5. Madonna said...
    February 2, 2010 at 7:17 PM


  6. One Cryptic Mama said...
    February 3, 2010 at 11:38 AM

    we follow 5 sec rule for some stuff. never thought about the bathroom- but def 5 sec rule wouldn't work in there for us!
    onecrypticmama AT yahoo DOT com

  7. denise said...
    February 4, 2010 at 8:28 AM

    My kids are germ fighters. They do not follow the five second rule. Their Dad on the other hand needs to constantly be reminded by his 3 year old sons to (sani)"tize" if something drops on the floor.

    denise_22315 at yahoo dot com

  8. Anonymous said...
    February 5, 2010 at 10:25 AM

    I once saw a kid at an outdoor shopping mall lose his scoop of ice cream from the cone after just a few licks. The mom--not missing a beat--picked it up and plopped it back on top. This was before I was a mom myself. I made a mental note that it's okay and much better than having to buy a new cone.

